Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: John Weeden
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder: J.F. Squires
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 296 tons
• Location: Near Fairbanks’ Point, Lake Ontario
• Official Number: 12792
• Original Owners: Lane & Hand; A. Cheesbrough; interests in Detroit, Michigan
• Number of Masts: 1

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The John Weeden was a large wooden schooner built in 1857 at Huron, Ohio. Schooners like the John Weeden were heavily used on the Great Lakes for transporting bulk cargoes such as grain, iron ore, and lumber. The ship’s substantial size, at nearly 300 tons, allowed it to carry significant loads, contributing to the regional trade network.

Description

The John Weeden was a wooden schooner that played a significant role in the Great Lakes shipping industry. Its construction in 1857 marked the beginning of a career that would see it involved in numerous incidents, reflecting the perils of maritime navigation during that era.

History

The John Weeden had an eventful career filled with collisions and repairs, highlighting the challenges faced by schooners on the Great Lakes:

• 1858
  • May 15: Collided with the schooner Kate L. Bruce near Turtle Island, Lake Erie.
  • October: Lost anchors and suffered damage to its mainsail during a gale at Point Pelee, Lake Erie.
• 1860: Owned by Lane & Hand of Sandusky, Ohio; grounded with a load of iron ore on Elk Island in the St. Clair River on July 18.
• 1863: Underwent extensive repairs to maintain its operability.
• 1865: Re-measured at 214.43 gross tons; struck by lightning, losing its mainsail while sailing on Lake Superior in July.
• 1866: Partially rebuilt with a new deck, bulwarks, and stanchions under the ownership of A. Cheesbrough of Toledo, Ohio.
• 1867 April: Went ashore on West Sister Island, Lake Erie.
• 1868: Owned by interests in Detroit, Michigan.
• 1869 October 15: Collided with the bark Favorite off Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan; later repaired.

Significant Incidents

Significant incidents during the John Weeden‘s service include:

• Collisions with other vessels, including the Kate L. Bruce and the bark Favorite.
• Grounding incidents, particularly in the St. Clair River.
• Severe weather impacts, including damage from gales and lightning strikes.

Final Disposition

On October 27, 1869, the John Weeden was wrecked during a blizzard after a collision with the schooner Drion off Devil’s Nose, near Fairbanks’ Point, two miles east of Pultneyville, New York, on Lake Ontario. The vessel was en route from Chicago, Illinois, to Ogdensburg, New York, with a cargo of corn when the accident occurred. After the collision, the ship was blown ashore and wrecked. Fortunately, the crew was rescued by the schooner Orion.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no records of any modern efforts to locate or recover the wreck of the John Weeden. Its remains likely rest near Fairbanks’ Point, but no formal discovery has been documented. There are no known navigational hazards related to the wreck, though the area off Devil’s Nose has seen multiple shipwrecks due to challenging navigation and frequent storms.

Resources & Links

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The John Weeden‘s history illustrates the dangers faced by schooners on the Great Lakes, where frequent collisions and severe weather often led to shipwrecks, despite efforts to repair and maintain the vessels.